Friday, January 4, 2013

Bucs stop Brew Crew in 3

The Pirates and Brewers met in a classic showdown between two hated rivals.  Who would get the upper hand in this series?

Game 1
The first game looked like a pitching duel and it didn't disappoint.  AJ Burnett started for the Bucs while Wily Peralta got the ball for the Brewers.  The Bucs struck first in the bottom of the 4th Garrett Jones doubled and then Pedro Alvarez doubled home Jones.  The game remained 1-0 until the top of the 9th and the Pirates closer was facing Ryan Braun.  Hanrahan came home with his best stuff a 97 mile fastball and Braun tattooed it into the left field seats to tie the game at 1.  The game would go extra frames.  Neither team could score until the bottom of the 14th.  Pedro Alvarez singled to start the inning.  Jody Mercer pinch ran for Alvarez.  The Pirates played a perfect hit and run as Walker singled to right sending Mercer to 3rd base with the winning run and nobody out.  Clint Barmes was intentionally walked to load up the bases.  Michael McKenry worked the count and took ball four to force in the winning run giving the Bucs a much hard fought victory over the Brewers 2-1.  

Game 2
This game was all Brewers as they jumped on James McDonald for 5 runs in the first 3 innings.  The hitting barrage would continue as the Brewers coasted home to a 9-3 victory.  Yovani Gallardo picked up the win going 5 innings only giving up 2 runs.  There was 5 homeruns hit in this game with 3 by the Bucs and 2 by the Brewers.  Aramis Ramirez had 3 hits and 3 rbi's.  

Game 3
This was it as this game would decide the series winner.  The Bucs sent Wandy Rodriguez to the hill while the Brewers countered with Marco Estrada.  The Brewers got the game's first run as Jonathon Lucroy singled home Juan Segura to give them a quick 1-0 lead.  The Pirates struck right back in the top of the 4th as Pedro Alvarez homered to tie the game at 1-1.  This looked like a repeat of game 1.  The game remained tied until the 8th inning.  The Pirates had a rally going as Alex Presley stood on 2nd base and Andrew McCutchen was up to bat.  The Brewers had Manny Parra on the hill with 1st base open.  Parra was allowed to pitch to McCutchen.  I guess the Brewers weren't playing the percentages as McCutchen murdered lefties in 2012 with a .392 batting average and .677 slugging percentage.  You can only guess what happened.  McCutchen drove a pitch into the right center bleachers to give the Pirates a 3-1 lead with a two run shot.  Well that was pretty much it as Joel Hanrahan closed out the 9th this time giving the Bucs the series win.  This was a very good series full of suspense, rally noise, and plate music all courtesy of the new version.  I am really impressed with the new version.  Neil Walker hit .545 and was elected series MVP.

--submitted by Frank Aluzzi--

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